First off, I want to sincerely thank the homies at HHG for providing this great opportunity for us to connect with the HHG community, our fans and the hip-hop world on a regular basis through this journal.

We (Rise-Ascend & Direction) have a lot of great news and updates to share regarding our music and the important cause that motivates us.

As everyone can see, the HHG team has the site back on its A++ game with the recent re-launch and new look and we are super enthusiastic about being a part of the growth.

Some of you may recall, I contributed a journal to HHG some years ago under my old name Ankh Amen Ra. In late 2008, I changed my name to Rise-Ascend and the change represents growth and elevation for me both spiritually and in terms of my music. It’s a new day and the sun shines bright! The music has matured and I really look forward to sharing it with the HHG community on a regular basis. Exclusive leak treatment on deck!

So, what can you expect from our new journal? Well, in concise and to the point entries, we plan to provide everyone with in-depth insight into the development of our music, fun behind the scenes glances at our journey of recording, performing and sharing our music with the world, in addition to sharing important information about our efforts and activities in working to raise awareness about egregious human rights violations currently taking place – particularly in China.

Anyone familiar with Rise-Ascend & Direction’s music knows that bringing an immediate end to the vicious persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China is a cause that is very important to us and you can hear this in songs like “Behind The Wall” from our latest album “Change in The Wind.” For those who may be unaware, Falun Gong is a peaceful meditation practice that incorporates 5 Tai Chi-like exercises and is based on the improvement of moral character through adherence to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. Falun Gong is practiced by millions of people all over the world today. However, since 1999, the Chinese communist party (CCP) – the current government in China – has brutally persecuted Falun Gong practitioners by viciously torturing tens of thousands of practitioners in prisons and labor camps and killing over 3 thousand innocent people since the persecution began. Further, the CCP has been conducting live organ harvesting of practitioners by forcefully removing their internal organs while in prisons and state-run hospitals, in order to sell those organs on the international black market. We are talking evil, inhumanity to the extreme!

So, in addition to sharing good music and updates, there will certainly be a lot for us to talk about and keep you informed of, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, jump over to the Audio Section and check out our new singles “Mission To Accomplish” & “Smile.” Those two songs are just a taste of what we have in store for you going forward.

It’s an important time, it’s an exciting time. Let’s move into the future together!